Before the birth of my son in October, I collected a small stash of newborn cloth diapers. Although I have a huge stash of one-size diapers, I wanted to have some smaller options on hand in case my second baby was smaller than eight pounds at birth. Because my son weighed seven pounds at birth, I am definitely glad that I decided to invest in some newborn diapers.
In addition to buying a small stash of newborn cloth diapers, I had also been on the lookout for new brands to try and test. When BubbyBums Children’s Boutique posted about a review opportunity earlier this summer, I eagerly replied for a chance to review a newborn cloth diaper. BubblyBums agreed to the review and sent me a newborn all-in-one and a preemie all-in-one.
About BubbyBums
BubbyBums is a small family-run business in North Texas owned by Stacey Humphreys. When she found herself raising a grandchild who needed cloth training pants, Stacey found herself shocked by the price of other brands. As a sewing enthusiast since the age of 9, she decided to sew her own training pants. After suggestions that she sell her creations online, she opened shop on Hyena Cart, Etsy, and eBay and eventually developed her own website. Cloth training pants are a staple of BubbyBums. The store also sells cloth diapers and other accessories for children.
Price
I received two diapers from BubbyBums: newborn all-in-one and preemie all-in-one. The newborn all-in-one costs $8.00 with discounts for bulk purchases of five to seven ($7.20 each) and eight or more ($6.80 each). A dozen preemie diapers costs $84.00, or $7.00 per diaper. Both the newborn and preemie diapers are priced significantly lower than other similar brands of all-in-ones, making BubbyBums an extremely affordable cloth diapering option.
Design
The imported newborn all-in-one from BubbyBums features an outer layer of PUL and an inner lining of soft fleece with a sewn-in soaker of bamboo and microfiber terry. Internal gussets help contain messes. The front of the diaper features a single row of eight snaps and an umbilical cord snap. The wings on the back of the diaper feature three snaps for a secure fit around the waist. Available in a handful of solid colors and measuring approximately 6 inches wide, BubbyBums newborn all-in-one cloth diapers fit babies between 6 and 12 pounds.
Made in the United States, the preemie all-in-one from BubbyBums features an outer layer of PUL and an inner lining of soft fleece with a sewn-in soaker of absorbent hemp/organic cotton fleece, micro fiber terry, and cotton. Velcro closures around the waist ensure a perfect fit for premature newborns between 2 and 5.5 pounds. The BubbyBums preemie all-in-one comes in an assortment of solid colors and prints and measures approximately 5 inches wide.
Laundering
As I have previously admitted, I am pretty lazy in the laundry room. I thus require a cloth diaper that fits into my current laundry routine, and both the newborn and the preemie all-in-ones from BubbyBums fit into my stash perfectly. (Note: I washed and dried the preemie diaper only once because my son weighed seven pounds at birth and did not require the preemie size.) On laundry day, I toss my diaper pail full of dirty diapers including my BubbyBums newborn all-in-one in my washing machine for a warm heavy wash with some Rockin’ Green and OxiClean followed by two cold rinses. I then allow the clean diaper to air dry in a front of fan on my drying rack. Because of the sewn-in soaker, I also always toss the air-dried diaper in my dryer for 10 to 20 minutes to zap any remaining moisture. I rate both the newborn and the preemie all-in-ones from BubbyBums very highly in terms of ease of washing and drying.
Performance
My son weighed exactly 7 pounds at birth. He dropped down to approximately 6.5 pounds during his first week but quickly gained the weight back and continued adding on ounces. The newborn all-in-one from BubbyBums fit him at birth and continues to fit him at three weeks old.
To accommodate his umbilical cord, I first used the BubbyBums newborn all-in-one on my son with the umbilical cord dip fastened. Once his cord stump fell off at five days old, I unfastened the snap. The diaper fits him well around the waist in both configurations.
At birth, my son wore the BubbyBums newborn all-in-one on the smallest waist setting. Now at three weeks old, he still wears the diaper on the smallest waist setting. He also has plenty of vertical room left in which to grow.
At birth, my son wore the BubbyBums newborn all-in-one on the smallest waist setting. Now at three weeks old, he still wears the diaper on the smallest waist setting. He also has plenty of vertical room left in which to grow. At three months and 14 pounds, my son wore the diaper with two waist snaps showing, meaning the diaper can fit past the recommended 12 pounds. By four months and 15 pounds, he still wore the diaper with two waist snaps showing, but the waist was rather sung, indicating the upper limit of the newborn all-in-one.
Because of the natural bamboo material in the soaker of the BubbyBums newborn all-in-one, the diaper does require multiple washes and dries to achieve maximum absorbency. My son tends to pee a lot all at once, so he often leaks through his diapers. The newborn all-in-one from BubbyBums generally lasts him between one and two hours before leaking. However, I have been able to add a booster insert, which allows the diaper to last a bit longer. Additionally, although two hours is an okay length of time for a cloth diaper, I would like BubbyBums to add a few more layers of absorbency to this all-in-one to increase the useable leak-free time.
Of all the features present on the BubbyBums newborn all-in-one, I appreciate the internal gusset the most. I exclusively breastfeed my son, so his newborn poop is yellow and seedy. During his first week, he experienced some jaundice that resulted in treatment with a bili-blanket that resulted in darker but extremely moist poops. My BubbyBums diaper has contained all of the poop without any problems. I therefore rate the newborn all-in-one extremely highly in terms of containing solid waste.
Newborn
Three Months
Four Months
Final Verdict
At $8.00 or less each, the newborn all-in-one from BubbyBums is an inexpensive option for cloth diapering a new baby. Easy to wash and dry, this newborn diaper features an umbilical cord dip that allows for better healing of the belly button. Although I would like the soaker to include a little more absorbency to increase the time between diaper changes, the internal gussets effectively contain solid messes. The diaper is also roomy enough to add an extra booster, and I am confident that this all-in-one will last my son through at least 12 pounds. If you are searching for an economical newborn cloth diaper, I recommend checking out the BubbyBums newborn all-in-one.
For more information or to make a purchase, visit the BubbyBums website including the newborn all-in-one and preemie all-in-one products pages. You can also follow BubbyBums on Facebook.
Image Credits
Front of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One and BubbyBums Preemie Cloth Diapers © 2014 Heather Johnson
Back of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One and BubbyBums Preemie Cloth Diapers © 2014 Heather Johnson
Front of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper © 2014 Heather Johnson
Front of BubbyBums Preemie Cloth Diaper © 2014 Heather Johnson
Snaps of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper © 2014 Heather Johnson
Velcro of BubbyBums Preemie Cloth Diaper © 2014 Heather Johnson
Interior of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper © 2014 Heather Johnson
Interior of BubbyBums Preemie Cloth Diaper © 2014 Heather Johnson
Gussets of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper © 2014 Heather Johnson
Gussets of BubbyBums Preemie Cloth Diaper © 2014 Heather Johnson
Front of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper with Umbilical Snap on Newborn © 2014 Heather Johnson
Front of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper Without Umbilical Snap on Newborn © 2014 Heather Johnson
Side of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper on Newborn 1 © 2014 Heather Johnson
Side of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper on Newborn 2 © 2014 Heather Johnson
Back of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper on Newborn © 2014 Heather Johnson
Front of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper at Three Months © 2015 Heather Johnson
Side of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper at Three Months © 2015 Heather Johnson
Front of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper at Four Months © 2015 Heather Johnson
Side of BubbyBums Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper at Four Months © 2015 Heather Johnson
